Clemson assistant coach claims Tigers getting respect “1% at a time”

The Clemson Tigers aren’t necessarily the Rodney Dangerfields of college football, but one assistant coach said the team is still trying to gain respect.

Jeff Scott, the Clemson wide receivers coach and co-offensive coordinator, tweeted out a picture of the Tigers’ chances against Alabama in the national championship game this morning.

“Well … we are starting to gain some respect … 1% at a time,” Scott wrote. Three crying emoticons followed the verbiage.

Clemson, the only undefeated team in FBS and the No. 1 team in the CFB Playoff, knocked off Oklahoma, 37-17, at the Orange Bowl in the first national semifinal Thursday. Oklahoma was considered to have a 63 percent chance to win the game according to the Football Power Index (FPI).

Alabama is already favored to beat Clemson according to the FPI, which gives the Tide a 62 percent chance of winning. The No. 2 Crimson Tide crushed No. 3 Michigan State, 38-0, Thursday night in the Cotton Bowl — the second semifinal.

Las Vegas agrees with the FPI, as Alabama opened as a 4.5 favorite late Thursday night before the line quickly climbed to minus-6 for Bama (according to sportsbook operator CG Technology.

Clemson, which seeks its first national championship since the 1981, was a 4-point underdog to Oklahoma. Alabama has been favored in 80 of its last 81 games, including all three national championship games — all Crimson Tide victories.